Zimbabwe govt to cut more fees, licences

The Zimbabwean government has committed to a comprehensive review of levies, fees, licences, and permits across 12 key sectors of the economy, aiming to create a more conducive environment for business growth.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said the reforms will cover sectors including agriculture, retail, tourism, transport, energy, manufacturing, and financial services. The initiative responds to longstanding complaints from the private sector and investors about cumbersome, costly business processes.

According to the Treasury, this framework positions Zimbabwe among a select group of African countries implementing simultaneous cross-sector regulatory reforms, designed to enhance competitiveness, job creation, productivity, and investment.

The reforms have already begun in the agriculture sector, which has been hampered by excessive regulations, high compliance costs, and duplication of responsibilities across institutions. In the transport sector, fees for vehicle-related licences and transit fuel costs have been significantly reduced or eliminated, improving logistics efficiency.

"In tourism, the government has been conducting a comprehensive review of levies, licenses, and fees to reduce the financial burden on operators and enhance the competitiveness of Zimbabwe's tourism offerings," Ncube said during an economic update at the Zanu-PF National People's Conference.

A 100-day accelerator model has been implemented to engage ministries, departments, and agencies collaboratively with private sector stakeholders, ensuring consensus-driven reforms. Recommendations are reviewed by Cabinet before implementation through legislation or statutory instruments.

The reforms are expected to stimulate private investment, reduce regulatory costs, and improve the ease of doing business, supporting the country's Vision 2030 goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy.

"These reforms are designed to remove structural bottlenecks, enhance competitiveness, and reduce the cost of doing business," Ncube said, noting their potential to attract fresh investment and create employment opportunities.